Improved method of closing bottles



MATTHEWS, Jr.

Bottle Stopper.

Patented July 18, 1865.

N. Pzrzns. PhalwLilhogmph-r. Washington, I:v c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVED METHOD OF CLOSING BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,822, dated July 18, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MATTHEWS, J r., of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful I unprovements in Closing Bottles; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section of bottle, stopper, and plunger, and similarletters referto similar parts throughout.

My invention relates to the constructing of an internal floating stopper for a bottle, in such manner that when the liquid is poured into the bottle to the required height-say to the dotted lines W W in the drawing-that the stopper shall present itself in proper position for being seized by an instrument and drawn to its seat in the mouth of the bottle.

It is obvious that if the stopper were an elastic spherical valve no difficulty could be experienced in seizing it in any position and drawing it to its seat in the neck of the bottle; but in practice it has been found difficult to prevent such ball-stopper from losing its true sphericalform afterremaining for a long time in the neck ofthe bottle, especially when subjected to a high internal pressure, as would be the case if aerated liquids were inclosed in the bottle. In consequence of the rings and other indentations thus permanently impressed upon such ball-stopper, it has been found difficult to close such bottle perfectly a second time, unless the same part of the ball could againbe brought exactly to its former place. This I accomplish by weighting the stopper, or so disposing the materials used in its construction that one part of the stopper shall always be presented toward the mouth of the bottle in a convenient position for being seized by instruments and drawn to its place.

In practice it has also been desirable to se-v cure some ready means of seizing the stopper and drawing it'to its seat in the mouth of the bottle.

Myinvention consists, principally, in accomplishing this by constructing my stopper with which may be attracted by a magnet, and thus drawn to its seat in the neck of the bottle.

In the drawing, Figure J, B represents the bottle filled with liquid to the dotted lines W W. The red dotted lines 1' i t" i, c, and F show a the position of the stopper while floating on the liquid. 0 represents the central rod of iron, which projects below the cork-float F and causes it to float in an upright position.

M M represents the magnetic plunger. which, being lowered into the bottle, attracts the central bar, 0, with sufficient force to enable the stopper to be drawn to its place in the mouth of the bottle. I have described the plunger M M as being magnetic, and the rod of the stopper as of iron, capable of being attracted by the magnet; but I do not wish to confine myself to this precise arrangement, as the central bar G of the stopper might be rendered permanently magnetic if of steel or other suita:

ble material, and the plunger M M might be;

simply a piece ofiron, which the stopper would attract. It is obvious, also, that the plunger M M might be rendered magnetic by induction, or being excited at proper times by electric or other voltaic currents, so as to produce substantially the same results.

I am aware that an internal floating bottlestopper has long been known, and that therefore that method is not new. I do not claim that as my invention; but

What 1 do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Constructing a bottle-stopper with a core of metal either magnetic or capable of being attracted by a magnet, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The employment of a magnetic plunger, M M, or its equivalent, for the purpose specilied.

3. The bottle B, stopper F, and plunger M, when operating by magnetic attraction, as described, for the purpose specified.

JOHN MATTHEWS, JR.

Witnesses:

ANDREW J. NALLY, ERASTUS D. DUNCAN. 

